Sonography could replace biopsy in some breast tumors

Ultrasound is an acceptable alternative to biopsy for the management of tumors hidden to x-ray mammography but diagnosed as probably benign under the ultrasound Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, according to a study in the July issue of Radiology.

Investigators at the Ambulatory Care Center in Steyr, Austria, retrospectively evaluated 445 nonpalpable solid masses from 409 women who underwent ultrasound between January 2001 and December 2003. These masses were partially or completely obscured by dense breast tissue on mammography but were classified as probably benign by ultrasound. Of the 445 masses, 442 remained stable during a mean follow-up of more than three years. The false-negative rate and negative predictive value of the test were 0.2% and 99.8%, respectively.